A total of 43 persons lost their lives on Northern Cape roads in the 2023-’24 festive season.
This is a smaller number than recorded in the 2022-’23 festive season, when 51 people died on these roads.
According to the Northern Cape Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison, a reduction in the number of vehicle crashes was also recorded.
Head of communications, Rennie Andrias, said the department had launched the Arrive Alive Road Safety Festive Season Campaign on 8 December, which was concluded on 15 January.
A total of 8 drivers died on Northern Cape roads in this period, while 20 passengers passed on, as well as 2 cyclists and 13 pedestrians.
Andrias said a significant number of crashes happened between Thursday nights and Saturday nights, from 21:00 to 04:00. Men made up most of the fatalities.
The highest speed transgression recording was made on the N1 near Colesberg in the Pixley Ka Seme District when a driver was driving 191 km per hour in a 120 km per hour zone.
A total of 15 people were arrested for excessive speeding.
The department employed 96 provincial road traffic officers on Northern Cape roads, assisted by municipal traffic officers and members of the SAPS.
To ensure that crashes and fatalities on roads are reduced all through the year, road safety campaigns will focus on driver behaviour and attitude.
More work will be done to root out corruption at driving licence testing centres, where the journey to become a responsible driver commences.
Furthermore, the Northern Cape sent 50 young people to a traffic college in the Free State to be trained as traffic officers.
Spike in hijackings possible
While vehicle hijackings are increasing in general, the Fidelity Service Group did not experience an increase in the number of vehicle hijackings nationally over the festive season.
Chief executive officer (CEO), Wahl Bartmann, says while no spikes in hijackings were recorded over the festive season, the group is gearing up as the available data indicates that a spike may occur in January and February.
He says vehicle hijackings are a business driven by demand and supply, commenting that the demand for Toyota, Volkswagen (VW), Ford and Nissan vehicles remains high on the black market.
Based on statistics, the most high-risk models are the Toyota Fortuner (GD6 and D4D), Hilux (GD6 and D4D), Corolla Cross, RAV 4, VW Polo (especially hatchbacks), Nissan NP 200, and Ford Ranger (double and single cabs). Utility vehicles and trucks are typically hijacked for the cargo.
“Most hijackings target victims at or close to their residences or places of work,” said Bartmann.
“A recent trend was identified in which the hijackers kidnapped the victims to assist with the location of the tracking device and to delay the reporting of the incident.”
Bartmann confirmed that approximately 30% of all stolen and hijacked vehicles were taken across the border.
He advised the public to always be aware of their surroundings and look out for vehicles that may be following them.
If they suspect that they are being followed, they should drive to the closest police station immediately or at least to a busy centre where there are other people around.
